Murray Journal | March 2023

MURRAY CITY WATCHDOG SAYS RESIDENTS NEED TO ENGAGE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

What ought to happen with the old city hall property? The Historic Murray First Foundation pushes for more public engagement and encourages residents to contact the council to voice their opinions.

City leaders have made it known that the city intends to sell the city hall property that fronts State Street and stretches to the Ken Price Ballpark. One specific issue is the potential loss of the Arlington building (old city hall), which is not included in the city’s interpretation of the “historic downtown” area.

Historic Murray First Foundation (HMFF) Vice President Rachel Morot said, “Murray City has not yet acted on the Y2 Analytics survey that was done, where citizens voiced their preference for a historic downtown. What has happened is that the definition of ‘historic downtown’ has been restricted in its interpretation by the city to mean the section of State Street between 4800 South and Vine Street. This excludes the Arlington property, and it should not.”

Murray City initiated the survey last year after the city conducted an open house regarding the area known as Block One. The open house generated enough public input to compel the city to hold off on the initial plans presented in the meeting. HMFF wishes more residents would engage in city plans be-

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Arlington Elementary School (now city hall) was about to open in the 1930s, with its predecessor being demolished in the background. (Photo courtesy of Murray City Museum)

Mayor tells his vision for Murray City in State of the City Address

MurrayCity Mayor Brett Hales highlighted significant events in store for Murray at his annual Jan. 31 State of the City Address. The mayor addressed a packed Murray City Boards and Commissions recognition dinner at Intermountain Medical Center’s Doty Education building.

“Never in my life has a year gone by so quickly as 2022 did,” Hales said. “Never in my life has there been a year filled with so much fun, excitement, and just enough challenge to keep my feet on the ground.”

Hales stressed his commitment to the residents of Murray and acknowledged there had been disagreements regarding Murray’s ultimate outcomes.

“First of all, I want to thank the residents of Murray. My focus has always remained on you and what’s best for the city. We may not always agree on the issues, but I hope you believe that I listen to you and try to find a way to address your questions and concerns,” Hales said.

He also recognized Murray City employees, many of who were present at the event.

“I want to thank the 800-plus full- and part-time employees of the city. They are the hardest-working and kindest people I’ve ever worked with. I love it when I hear of people who have 40 or more years of service with the city. Or, when new hires are thrilled to finally land a job with Murray,” Hales said.

The mayor reported that Murray City was in excellent shape, with a strong and growing economy, low crime rates, and a thriving community.

“There were no homicides (this year),” Hales said. In addition, “Ten new officers were hired.”

Furthermore, the mayor highlighted the city’s recent achievements, including completing major road improvement projects such as the Walden Hills subdivision storm drain

Jou r nals

MURRAY CITY TEAM

The Murray City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Murray. For information about distribution please email brad.c@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

project and the Atwood Boulevard intersection. In addition, he pointed out the opening of several new businesses, such as Modern Display, The Break Sports Grill Murray (4760 S. 900 East), Taco Bell and Miyazaki.

“We maintained our financial reserves at 25% of revenue and still took care of equipment and facilities,” Hales said.

However, the mayor acknowledged that there were challenges ahead and was determined to address them head-on. One of the most pressing issues was the city’s aging infrastructure, and the mayor announced funding to upgrade 900 East between Van Winkle Expressway and 5600 South and add bike lanes on 4800 South from the Jordan River Parkway to State Street.

Another key priority for the mayor was the continued growth and development of the city’s downtown area. As a result, the mayor announced a series of initiatives, including creating new public spaces and renovating existing buildings.

“Renovation of the (National Guard) Armory into a meeting or event center will commence soon,” Hales said. “The RDA (Redevelopment Area) area surrounding the old City Hall is for sale.”

While the fate of historic buildings has been contentious in the city, the mayor spoke about the importance of preserving some of Murray City’s historical and heritage sites. Renovation on the Murray Theater and the old Murray Mansion, which will house the Murray Museum, continues. Furthermore, Hales said the historic Murray Chapel, which was discussed as a possibility of being sold, will be renovated.

Hales listed general concerns that Murray residents should be aware of, including aging infrastructure, more things will break

or spring leaks; supply shortages, causing delays; increasing demand for services due to greater population; inflation driving up the cost of services; housing demand; homelessness; and the cost of purchased power is increasing drastically.

Finally, the mayor closed his address with a call to action, telling the residents of Murray City that 2023 would be an even more active year. “As I said at the beginning, time is moving quickly, and already we are one month into 2023,” Hales said. “Two new council members were sworn in last year. An election will be held this year that will have three of the council members on the ballot. I look forward to the changes in store for the rest of this year.” l

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Murray Mayor Brett Hales meets students from Grant Elementary School. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)

Murray Mayor Brett Hales presents his State of the City Address at the annual Murray City Boards and Commissions recognition dinner. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

The heart of governance: Murray City’s boards and commissions

It’s a thought that has probably drifted through many Murray residents’ heads, “How can I be more involved in my community.” Fortunately, Murray City has an answer for that—volunteer to be on one of its many boards and commissions.

Murray City’s sense of community, history and stated commitment to progress is an innovative approach to governance. The city’s unique system of boards and commissions are tasked with making recommendations and providing advice on various issues affecting the city.

“Many positions require the board member to be a city resident. Relevant experience, whether volunteer or work related to the specific board, is also extremely helpful,” Murray Mayor’s Administrative Assistant Kathy Miller said.

Historically, the city realized that the best way to ensure Murray’s continued growth and prosperity was to tap into the wealth of knowledge and expertise within the community. The city created a series of boards and commissions, each focused on a different area of city life. From parks and recreation to planning and zoning and even the arts, Murray City had a board or commission for every aspect of city life.

Members of these boards and commissions are appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. Many are selected for their expertise and passion for the specific area they would be serving. Generally, members of each board are chosen out of each city council district, with some larger boards having at-large members.

Parks and Recreation Board Member Daren Rasmussen works at the State of Utah Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety & Stream Alterations. His wife Joelle serves on the Murray City Library Board of Directors and the University of Utah Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Rasmussen said, “We are scheduled to meet as a board every second Wednesday of each month with a Murray City Parks & Recreation staff member present (usually the director). We review Parks & Recreation facilities, amenities, and issues pertaining to utilizing experience, research, and public viewpoint. As warranted, we provide advice to Murray City Parks & Recreation staff, the mayor’s office, and the City Council. We act as a liaison between the city and the citizens representing the citizens to their city and also the city to its citizens.”

Ali Lyddall who serves on the Murray City Library Board of Directors adds, “I have the same responsibilities as the rest of the board as far as hearing reports from the library staff, recommending changes to policies and voting on issues. As the board chair, I conduct the meetings and I am responsible for conducting the annual evaluation of the library director and submitting a report to the city government.”

The boards and commissions are tasked with gathering information, conducting research, and making recommendations to the city on various topics. They met regularly and are open to public comment, providing a forum for community members to share their opinions and ideas.

“Except for the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Ethics Commission, all other boards are advisory to the staff, mayor, and council. Board members should understand this when making recommendations,” Miller said.

As the Murray Library has the ability to assess a tax, board members must approve any request for a tax increase.

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

“I was nervous when I was approached about joining the board, but only because I didn't know much about what the library board was responsible for or how it functioned. It is a serious thing to be responsible to sign off on how the library assessed city taxes are spent, but there is abundant transparency and opportunity to ask questions when needed,” Lyddall said.

One of Murray City’s most active boards and commissions is the Parks and Recreation Board.

“I am amazed at how many programs and events Murray Parks & Recreation provides. Murray City has taken an interest in preserving history by renovating the Murray Mansion and restoring the Murray Theater. The board has reviewed decisions regarding these and has provided input,” Rasmussen said.

As part of gathering information, the Parks Board canoed Murray’s part of the Jordan River. They reviewed seating options for the Murray Theater by sitting in samples of various seats. They also gave input into the soon-to-be-renovated Murray Armory reception center.

Another critical board in Murray City is the Planning and Zoning Commission. The commission is responsible for reviewing development proposals and recommending land use, zoning, and development to the city council. In addition, the commission works closely with developers, community groups, and city staff to ensure that new development aligns with the city’s vision and values.

“Except for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Ethics Commission, all other boards are advisory to the staff, mayor, and council,” Miller said.

The Murray Arts Advisory board comprises artists, musicians, and cultural enthusiasts passionate about promoting the arts in the city. They advise Murray Parks & Recreation Director Kim Sorenson and Cultural Arts Manager Lori Edmunds on concerts, shows, and exhibitions utilizing the Murray Amphitheatre, Murray Museum and Murray Fun Days.

While most boards are strictly volunteer, the city provides an annual boards and commissions recognition dinner. However, some benefits of serving on a board are less tangible.

“Some benefits to serving on a board include a broader perspective of local government, opportunities to pro-

vide input regarding board decisions, annual recognition night, and an opportunity to meet the mayor and council prior to being appointed,” Miller said.

“A challenge I have faced on the board is understanding the many different viewpoints from all perspectives, but this is also rewarding when being able to put the pieces together like a puzzle and recognizing solutions that are a great fit for Murray City and its citizens,” Rasmussen said.

Those interested in serving on a Murray City board should contact Kathy Miller at the mayor’s office. A list of boards and commissions can be found on the Murray City website: www.murray.utah.gov/115/Boards-Commissions.

Salt Lake County also seeks residents to participate on countywide boards: www.slco.org/get-involved/ boards-commissions.

However, serving the community does not have to be connected to a commission; instead, plenty of local organizations are continually looking for volunteers.

“The Parks & Recreation Department frequently utilizes volunteers for outdoor projects, sports programs, and senior recreation programs. Service organizations such as the Exchange Club, Rotary Club, the Boys & Girls Club, and NeighborWorks also have volunteer opportunities for the Murray community. Also, we are always appreciative of volunteers in our schools and religious organizations,” Miller said. l

The Murray Arts Advisory Board. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)

The Murray City Planning Commission meets bimonthly at City Hall. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

Murray City Police Department looking forward to new HQ

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

As the new Murray City Hall nears completion in May, its largest tenant, the Murray City Police Department, will move into its new state-of-the-art police headquarters. The facility, located at 4800 South, will serve as the central hub for all police operations. In addition, it will provide officers with the latest technology and resources to better serve and protect the community.

The new headquarters features a modern design and includes state-of-the-art equipment, such as an updated forensic and evidence holding room and a secure holding area for suspects. The building also has an exercise room, which other Murray City agencies can use.

Murray PD Chief Craig Burnett looks forward to the improved headquarters.

“Having all staff located in one building will bring a more cohesive environment and allow better communication between units and functions. We are able bring the entire department together in one central location; we no longer need to utilize two buildings. When the public needs anything (patrol, COP, detectives, code enforcement), there is one central location they respond to for help,” Burnett said.

Currently, Murray PD is housed in part of the old city hall. The former Arlington

Elementary School (which Chief Burnett attended as a youth) was built as a Works Progress Administration project during The Great Depression. After the school closed, the city remodeled it in the 1980s into the present city hall.

Safety concerns about the building about how well the city would withstand an

earthquake or fire prompted the city to build a new city hall. Also, police operations were housed in separate buildings, which the new city hall will consolidate.

According to Burnett, police officers will be grateful for many upgrades, including a locker room for equipment and uniform storage, showers and washing machines for cleanup, storage areas and meeting facilities.

Burnett enumerated other enhancements Murray PD looks forward to, “A building that is updated, a sense of pride when speaking with the public inside of our building, an area to work out and get ready for work (showers/locker room) all in the same place. The DUI intake area and updated interview rooms will allow officers to efficiently process subjects brought into the station. Lastly, it’s nice to know we won’t need buckets on our desks when it storms because the roof is leaking.”

Still, with a new HQ, Burnett notes Murray’s growth and changing dynamics, that the Murray PD still has needs for the future.

“Large item storage, particularly automobiles kept as evidence, is one of the biggest ongoing needs we will have. As the city continues to grow, so will the needs of the police department. With the growth of the police department comes the need for more fleet vehicles and storage of specialty items (e.g., speed trailers, bicycles, SWAT) to accommodate staff and units. Therefore, in the future, we will more than likely need an area for off-site storage to accommodate the growth and that will not clutter the city hall location and to keep it professional looking,” Burnett said.

There is an argument that centralizing evidence with Salt Lake County PD could provide the needed space.

Burnett responds, “There is some wisdom in that talk, particularly with large storage items. A lot for vehicle storage would be something to discuss. When it comes to standard evidence, having it with us, we are responsible for caring for and handling it. It is close for processing, and when needed to take it to court or the state crime lab, there isn’t the need to transfer and travel to pick it up. The citizens know where to go to pick up property, and we would not need to call an off-site location to release it.

“The evidence that is seized, lost/found, and held for the owner was all collected in Murray. Therefore, the collection of this evidence for the owners is much easier when it is time for the release of property. The public knows that Murray City police took the evidence, and they know where they can go to collect it. The evidence being centralized creates ‘chain of custody’ issues when we start transporting off-site. The evidence that Murray City police officers book into custody is done all in-house and is taken directly to a secured location before the officers clear the call. This is quick and easy, and the officer can move on to the next call instead of having to drive to a separate location out of Murray to book evidence.”

An open house for the new city hall and police headquarters is eyed in late May or early June. The building will officially open its doors to the public during summer this year. l

Murray City police monitor motorists’ speeds. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)

Murray City Chief of Police Craig Burnett. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)

March City Hall update

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

Construction now enters the end phase of the city hall build as workers focus on the finer details. Interiors have been painted and carpet laid in several offices. Crews are now installing one of several prominent art installations onto the exterior of the building. Hale Kinetics' design will feature multiple large metal discs laid out in a wave. Some

discs will be laser cut with notable Murray designs, such as the Murray City logo, the library mascot and high school icons. At his State of the City address, Mayor Brett Hales announced the old city hall would soon be put up for sale. The stipulations of the future sale have not yet been decided. l

yond the Block One area.

“People could make a difference if they combine their voices on an issue,” Morot said. “In fact, that is the only thing that will have any effect. Our city council has encouraged people to reach out to them, and people are disaffected or apathetic for whatever reason. That’s what I mean by the need to re-engage. Our foundation has chosen historic preservation as a way to be engaged in the process, but there are a variety of other ways. I don’t even want those who disagree with our efforts excluded. I encourage them to make their comments to the council as well as long as they are ‘re-engaging.’”

According to Morot, the Murray City Council has been criticized for not heeding residents’ input, including the loss of the Historic Murray First Ward Chapel and the potential development of high-density housing next to Murray Park.

“Over and over, people have said, we do not want more high density. We don’t want to live in the shadow of these ugly, generic, high-rise apartments. We want Murray to stay unique and independent. We want to keep and revitalize what we have that defines Murray’s character,” Morot said.

With increasing applications for

high-density housing, city leaders have expressed concern about serving new developments. As a result, the city placed a moratorium in 2020 to create new zoning guidelines to address high-density zoning permits. Most recently, Murray City Chief Administrative Officer Doug Hill told the Murray Journal in January that power generation is a big concern for Murray.

“The biggest question right now that we have for 2023 is what’s going to happen with energy… there are a lot of different forces in play right now with power,” Hill said.

Morot said, “We are very concerned about the additional strain on water, public utilities and Murray Park with more high-density infill. While we’re flipping our parking strips and letting our lawns die, the city is adding more strain on the resources. So why are we adding more strain on an overextended system?”

While HMFF understands that the city will sell the property, they believe the city should put deed restrictions to prevent the city hall from being torn down. Instead, they envision re-purposing the building to complement the renovation of the Murray Theater along with existing entertainment.

“My idea is to partner with a developer willing to turn it into the Arlington Restaurant Collective. It could house a collection of restaurants that the Murray

Theater crowds could patronize before or after shows. It would check all the boxes on everyone’s wish list. For-profit, tax revenue producing. Walkable distance from Murray Theater, Desert Star, and Ken Price Field. A response to all the people who have said Murray needs more dining and bar options. Saves one of our last few historic buildings,” Morot said.

However, critics of HMFF’s previous efforts have said that if you want to preserve the building so much, why not raise the funds to purchase and renovate it?

“I’ve heard that criticism leveled at our efforts too, so not just previous efforts, so it’s clearly the low-hanging fruit of critiques. It’s also the most irresponsible worldview I can imagine. I would ask in return, ‘So people are only allowed to care about their immediate personal property and nothing else?’ No public art, architectural treasures, sporting arenas or national parks matter, then? We have no right to express dismay over the destruction of meaningful things unless our name is on the deed? That’s nonsense, and nobody really operates that way, even the critics. We all have things that we don’t control financially, but that impact our lives immensely,” Morot said.

Morot emphasized historic preservation, public art and other community parks make Murray a beautiful and livable city.

“We lose our heritage; we lose what ties us together as a community because the wrong things are prioritized for the wrong reasons. Our efforts in historic preservation are not just to save old buildings. They are to advocate for the things that make Murray a beautiful place with a quality of life that serves everyone. These things matter the most,” Morot said. “Murray citizens understand this. It’s time our elected representatives do, too.” l

Historic Murray First Foundation Rachel Morot addresses the Murray City Council. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

Murray family’s secret to great coffee: love

Anew coffee shop will open its doors to the residents of Murray City, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for coffee lovers to enjoy. The coffee shop, named High Point Coffee, will call the corner of 5300 South and 700 West home.

Father and daughter duo Steve and Lindsay Wright have a passion for coffee and a desire to bring the community together. They hope to create a comfortable and inviting space perfect for meeting friends, catching up on work, or enjoying a cup of coffee.

“A little over 15 years ago, I quit my job at ATK (now Northrop Grumman) and decided to venture into the world of coffee. I drove across the nation looking for the best cup of coffee. I found it in Mississippi. After that, I asked my daughter Lindsay to open the shop in West Jordan with me. It took years of both of us working from open to close, but finally, we gained a foundation that we both can be proud of. We couldn’t have done it without each other, that’s for sure,” Steve Wright said.

Their first order of business is transforming the former Country Cleaners dry cleaning shop that has remained vacant for years. The previous property owners had to do an environmental clean-up of dry cleaning chemicals on the site.

With the future opening of High Point, support from the community seems widespread.

“I’m looking forward to having High Point Coffee coming in, adding a high-quality business to a location that has been an eyesore for 15 to 25 years,” Murray City Councilor Pam Cotter, whose district the location sits, said. “I think it will be a great place for the community to gather.”

Lymphedema

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

This location will be Wright’s second café. Their other site in West Jordan has a conference room, many types of coffee, and other beverages and pastries. They have live music on Friday nights. This new location will have the same features.

“It’s like we finally made it! We have been searching for prospect locations in Murray for a long time, so we are excited. We are so happy to finally give back to the community that we love,” Steve Wright said.

Deeply tied to Murray, the Wrights have been looking for a chance to open in their hometown.

“My father was raised in Murray; I was raised here myself, and then I chose to raise my children here. My daughter Lindsay is still currently a Murray resident, raising her own children here. My family history goes back decades in Murray, and I’m proud to say that,” Steve Wright said.

Aside from renovating the building, the Wrights have some traffic issues to address.

“Mr. Wright has worked really hard to get his plans approved by the city and UDOT. He is investing his own money in Murray,” Cotter said.

While hoping the business will succeed financially, the Wrights aspire to make it a community meeting spot.

“Not only do we pride ourselves in giving back to the community by hosting charity events as well as giving free coffee away to first responders and military persons, but we also just bring a positive vibe. We welcome everyone. Come catch up with your friends and family over a great cup of coffee. Or use our space to study for an exam, and the list goes on. We are so excited to welcome and become friends

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In addition to traditional coffee options, High Point also offers a variety of specialty drinks, hot chocolate and pastries. The shop’s signature drink, the “Barista Favorites,” gives customers a seasonal taste throughout the year. The pastries, including croissants and muffins, are made daily. They even offer a secret menu.

“We genuinely believe that we have mastered every step of the process, from roasting coffee beans all the way to handing the cup to our customers,” Steve Wright said. “Adding love to every drink definitely helps.” l

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Murray residents, the Wright family, will open a second café on 5300 South. (Photo courtesy of High Point Coffee)

Murray firefighter’s passion for piping

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

Throughout time bagpipes have been used to mark solemn occasions, such as escorting family and friends to a departed one’s final resting place. For celebrations, bagpipes guide triumphant graduates or parade marches through cheering crowds. In both instances, Murray firefighter and bagpiper Stephen Olson leads the way.

Olson, a battalion fire chief, who oversees operations and shift personnel, manages training programs, and works with 911 dispatch programs in Murray City, has been with the fire service since 2002. He started as a volunteer firefighter and has been a full-time firefighter since 2005. Throughout his career, he has held various positions, including paramedic, engineer and station captain.

Aside from his firefighting duties, Olson is also an accomplished bagpiper. He has played the instrument since he was 13 years old and has been affiliated with various performing groups, including the Payson High School Pipe Band and the Utah Firefighter’s Emerald Society Pipe Band. But, according to Olson, bagpiping is more than just a musical instrument; it’s a way of life for those passionate about Scotland’s history, lore and legacy.

“We have a pretty good network of pipers and generally love to jam and practice together. Bagpipes were one of the original publicly performed instruments because they required no amplification. They were loud enough on their own! I have had many other mentors and teachers who have passed on their knowledge down; I strive to do the same,” Olson said.

Playing the bagpipes is a family affair, as Olson’s brother plays the pipes and practices with him. However, Olson’s family lineage is Swedish.

According to Olson, “Most bagpipe tunes are just history about Scottish people, leaders, events, clans, wars, tragedy, love, culture, defeats, retreats, etc. You simultaneously learn about Scotland as you learn tunes; it goes hand in hand. You begin on a small practice chanter which resembles a recorder.

“Bagpipes go back very far in date, being mentioned in Babylonian/Persian history, the Bible, and the Crusades of Europe. Most theories support that the instrument originally came from the Middle East, then was brought back to Scotland by Crusaders. Bagpipes predate written sheet music, so it’s possible to learn them without having any prior musical score training. The original way of learning was to learn to ‘sing’ the tunes and movements by learning a piper language called Canntaireachd.”

Olson has played the bagpipes at various occasions, including funerals, parades, graduation ceremonies, weddings and birthday parties. He says that each type of event calls for different genres of tunes, ranging from slow-airs for funerals and memorials to fast jigs and reels for parties and dances. He also mentions that playing the bagpipes is physically demanding and takes an average of a year to learn how to play your first song on a complete set of pipes.

Olson notes that marches are the most common and usually are rooted in military history. These are sometimes in the form of marching into battle eager and anxious. Other marches are retreating away in defeat, sorrowful, humbled and injured. He has led processions at the Utah State Capitol and Utah Valley University.

“I play at UVU graduation every year, and that’s fun. I have played solo so much lately for smaller events, and

that’s the most common. Honestly, my favorite is to play for my family and have my kids enjoy and dance with my playing. They don’t always appreciate it, though, especially indoors. It gets to be overwhelming for them sometimes because it’s loud, and once I start playing, it’s hard to get me to stop,” Olson said.

Of all the events he has played at, Olson says that the funerals of Murray FD’s Captains Kelly Farrington, Glenae Turley and Andy Walkingshaw were the most memorable. He also mentions that playing for Draper City FD Matt Burchett, who died in the line of duty in 2018, was an emotional and powerful event.

Burchett led the Utah firefighting task force, which Olson was part of, to help fight the Mendocino, California wildfires.

“It was memorable because I was there when he was killed, and we fought the same fire on the same hill together. I remember the event clear as day. Then having him return home to Utah and pay tribute with our group, the Utah Firefighter’s Emerald Society Pipe Band, at the beginning and end of the services. That was emotional and powerful for all in attendance. Bagpipes have a way of resonating deeply into the soul and carrying memories and messages in a way that words simply cannot. So in times of intense sorrow, celebration, memorial or joy— turn to the bagpipes to make it a memory that lasts,” Olson said.

After piping at a firefighter funeral, Olson likes to leave a memento of a more personal nature; he will leave a kilt pin or hat pin with the casket.

“I do this when the person is especially close. The pin is usually a balmoral pin of a clan crest. I usually wear one of the clan crests of Clan MacKenzie, Clan Murray or Clan Graham,” Olson said.

Most Murray residents will likely see Olson marching in Murray City’s Independence Day parade, leading Murray FD’s trucks and crews along State Street. But Olson mentions that such an event provides its own workplace hazard while playing the bagpipes.

“Marching in a parade wearing a kilt is always exciting if the wind blows strong. Bagpipes are temperamental, which most people don’t realize. Pipes don’t work too well if it’s really cold or really hot. The tuning drifts in every direction when the weather is extreme,” Olson said. “So, if you request a piper in the dead of winter at a graveside, just know that the tuning is completely out of their control.” l

Murray firefighter and bagpiper Stephen Olson reflects after playing for fallen colleague Andy Walkingshaw. (Photo by Eric Betts; used by permission Mindy Walkingshaw)

Twenty-nine years is an important milestone for any business. In fact, only 20 percent of all businesses will survive to see their 20th anniversary. At Replenish, we believe our business model of providing top quality landscape materials, at a fair price, together with exceptional customer service, has provided the foundation of our success for these 29 years.

Beautiful gardens, lawns, and landscapes all start with the foundation of quality, nutrient-rich soil. While that is easy to say, it is much more complicated to sort through the numerous companies that all claim to sell the best. Whether you are starting a new flower garden or growing your own fruits and vegetables, Replenish Landscape Garden Products is here to help make your gardening goals a reality.

Replenish (the compost) and Replenish the Earth Products (the company) were created by Connie Cannon in 1994 in the driveway of her home. She wanted to create a compost mulch that would be high in nutrients, low in salts, as well as dark and rich in appearance. After seeking counsel from Peter Lassig, who had been the head landscape architect at Temple Square for over 40 years, she came up with the superior formula and blend for Replenish Compost. Mixing it together in her driveway, she would have her children put the compost in bags and sell it in their neighborhood.

“Whether you are picking up material at our yard, or having us deliver or install material in your yard, the service is always outstanding and to your satisfaction. As our customer, we have your best interest in mind,” said Mike Nitz, the current co-owner.

The Cannons sold the company 10 years later to the current owners, Mike Nitz and Greg Bettinson. After purchasing the company in 2004, Mike and Greg gave it a new name – Replenish Landscape Garden Products – to better describe what the business was all about. They also moved the business from West Valley City to its current location in Murray, at 4600 S. 200 W. Over the past 19 years, they have grown the business by expanding the variety of landscape materials offered and expanding their customer base to cover the entire Wasatch Front.

“There are a number of options when it

comes to landscape materials, but they are not all created equal,” explained Greg. “We believe that in Replenish Compost, we have the finest and most versatile compost available, period! To complement our signature Replenish Compost product, we have made it our focus to develop, or find, the very best soil blends, barks, wood mulches certified playground chips and soilless mixes specifically formulated for growing vegetables and flowers in containers or box gardens. Quality is what we sell.”

Any of Replenish’s products can be picked up at their Murray yard, in either bulk or bag.

They also deliver in bag, bulk, or in the 1-cubic-yard Super Big Bag to homes and businesses from Brigham City to Price. One of the unique services Replenish offers is their “Blower Truck” service. With this truck, they have the ability to install through a hose any of their products (except the rock and sand) directly into gardens, lawns or playgrounds.

Make your garden and yard work a successful, rewarding, and enjoyable experience. Call Replenish Landscape Garden Products at (801) 252-5962 for any question you might have or for a free quote.

We are located in the heart of Murray and are excited to improve the lives of our residents and their families by offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Local poet and activist sits vigil with the Great Salt Lake

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Local activist, poet and storyteller Nan Seymour, is bearing witness to the Great Salt Lake. From Jan. 18 through March 4, corresponding with the Utah State Legislative session, Seymour and her writing community held a vigil for the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

In a small camper on Antelope Island, Seymour and other nature lovers lived by the lake, recording breathtaking sunsets, the heartbreaking loss of more than 400 aquatic diving birds, the majesty of bison roaming the island and the beauty of a lake fighting to survive.

“I’m not a scientist, not an expert, but someone who’s loved birds for a long time,” Seymour said. “I wasn’t aware of the genuine state of peril and now it’s accurate to call this an active collapse of the ecosystem…I was late to pay attention but when it caught my attention, it caught my full attention. The lake is the heart of this bioregion and hemispherically essential.”

This is the second year Seymour has held vigil at the Great Salt Lake. In 2022, she felt it was necessary to be physically present with the lake and respect it as a sentient ancestor, neighbor and even a mother. She said it helps to hold the lake in a relational way, not just thinking of it as a water resource.

Scientists think there still might be time to save the lake and its ecosystem but it will take a concerted effort from legislators, farmers, homeowners and stakeholders to ensure the lake’s survival.

At 4,189 feet, the Great Salt Lake is at its lowest point in recorded history. Lawmakers had the opportunity to adopt a resolution, setting a goal of raising the lake to 4,198 feet, but

it seems the resolution will fail.

“We have to change our ways and it’s not comfortable,” Seymour said. “We will have to think in ways we haven’t thought before and take levels of responsibility we haven’t been willing to take. We have to live within our means with water. Just like if someone you love is dying, you move in a different way.”

The Great Salt Lake is a migratory stop for 10 million birds and is a center of life in the region. As the lake’s level continues to drop, due to drought and human interference like water diversion and outdated water policies, essential aspects of the ecosystem will continue to die off.

Microbialites, essentially living rocks, live in the shallow water of the lake and metabolize life, creating a home for brine flies and brine shrimp that feeds the birds. As microbialites are exposed due to receding water, they die.

Increased salinity in the lake is killing keystone species. Toxic dust in the dried lakebed is dangerous to humans, birds and animals living near the area. Seymour will continue calling attention to the perilous situation and asked that others raise their voices by talking to their representatives, writing op-eds and walking along the lake shore to keep the conversation going.

“Speak up, even when it feels hopeless and helpless,” she said. “It’s always against the odds, always against the powers that be. The people who make it happen are instigators, just ordinary, broken-hearted people who persist. They are outside the realm of power and influence. They are just people with hearts that keep showing up. That’s how change happens.”

Bison, on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, are just one species that depends on the lake’s ecosystem. Local poet Nan Seymour held vigil for the lake for 47 days by living on the island to draw awareness to the lake’s perilous situation. (Photo courtesy of Nan Seymour)

Grant Elementary . . . . . . 801-264-7416 Heritage Center (Senior Programming) 801-264-2635 Hillcrest Jr. High . . . . . . . 801-264-7442 Horizon Elementary . . . . 801-264-7420 Liberty Elementary . . . . . 801-264-7424 Longview Elementary 801-264-7428 Ken Price Ball Park 801-262-8282 Miss Murray Competition (Lindsey D. Smith) 801-699-2288 McMillan Elementary 801-264-7430 Murray Area Chamber

of Commerce.

801-264-2614

Murray Boys & Girls Club

Yes,

Election Time Again!

It seems like we just nished with an election cycle, but here I am, talking about the next one! That’s because it is important for all eligible voters to stay informed about the candidate ling deadlines, primary election date and general election.

In Murray this year, there are three council seats up for election:

• Council District 1

• Council District 3

• Council District 5

The City Council is responsible for voting on such things as policies, budgets and ordinances. Individuals interested in running for o ce can le their candidacy with the Murray City Recorder from June 1-7, 2023.

August 15, 2023 – Primary Election. This election is crucial as it determines which candidates will move on to the general election. During the primary, voters will have the chance to cast their ballots for the candidates they believe will best represent their interests and values.

August 29, 2023 – Board of Canvassers

Meeting – Primary

September 3, 2023 - The last day to qualify as a write-in candidate.

November 7, 2023 – General Election. This is the nal stage of the election process and the outcome of this election will determine who will hold o ce for the next four years. This is the time when all eligible voters can make their voices heard and choose their leaders.

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. 801-266-8185

. 801-264-7434

801-468-2560

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801-270-7280

Viewmont Elementary 801-264-7438

Novembers 21, 2023 – Board of Canvassers Meeting – General

It is important to participate in the election process and make your voice heard.

Whether you are voting in the primary or the general election, your vote matters. If you are not already registered to vote, now is the time to do so. To register, visit slco.org/clerk/elections/voter-registration.

As you may know, Murray City owns and operates its own electrical power system. Established in 1913, Murray City Power has offered reliable, inexpensive electricity to its 20,000 metered customers. The autonomy of having its own power system allows Murray to respond quickly to outages, provide stable rates, and have local control of management and staff.

Murray City Power has an impressive variety of power sources. Our mix of sources has been the envy of many other municipal power systems throughout the State (there are more than 40 other municipally owned systems in Utah).

POWER COSTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 OF NEWSLETTER

M URRAY S ENIOR R ECREATION C ENTER

10 East 6150 South, Murray, Utah 84107

801-264-2635

seniorrec@murray.utah.gov

murray.utah.gov/140Senior-Recreation-Center mcreg.com

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Closed Saturday and Sunday

Check our website for any changes in programs.

DAILY LUNCH BY CHEF OMAR LIMON

Date: Tuesday through Friday

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Cost: Cost is $5; prior registration not required

SPECIAL EVENTS

Family Concert Series

Date: Monday, Mar. 13

Synkofa (Celtic Jazz Ensemble)

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Cost: Free; no appointment needed open to all ages and doors open at 6:00 p.m.

CLASSES

Ceramics

Date: Tuesday and Thursday

Time: 9:00 a.m. – noon

Cost: $1.50 each class plus cost of supplies

Grief Support

Date: Friday, Mar. 10 and 24

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free; Register now

It All Starts at the Core

Date: Tuesday, Mar. 14

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free; Register now

Vital Aging: Boost Your Brain Power

Date: Tuesday, Mar. 28

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cost: Free; register now

Earthquake Class

Date: Friday, Mar. 31

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free; register now

DANCE

Line Dance: Beginning

Date: Tuesdays

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 for the month; register now

Thursday Evening Social Dance

Live Music provided by Tony Summerhays

Date: Thursdays

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $5

EXERCISE

Daily Exercise Classes – check our current newsletter for the schedule

PROGRAMS

Hand and Foot Card Game

Date: Mondays

Time: 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Bridge Lessons

Date: Mondays

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Mexican Train Dominos Game

Date: Thursdays

Time: 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

HEALTH SERVICES

Blood Pressure Clinic by Harmony Home Health

Date: Wednesday, Mar. 8

Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon

Cost: Free; no appointment necessary

Hearing Screening

Date: Monday, Mar. 20

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free; advance appointment required

UVU Health Screening

Date: Wednesday, Mar. 22

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Cost: Free; no appointment necessary

Haircuts

Date: Wednesdays

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Cost: $10; advance appointment required

Onsite Stretch

Date: Thursdays

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Cost: $38 per session; advance appt. required

Massage Therapy

Date: Thursdays

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $20 for half-hour or $40 for hour; advance appointment required

Murray City Power receives or generates power from the following facilities:

Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) which is the federal dam system in the Colorado River Basin Hunter power plant (coal plant near Price, Utah)

Intermountain Power Agency plant (coal plant near Delta, Utah)

Cottonwood hydro (small plant near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Natural gas turbine plant (three turbines located here in the city on 4800 South)

Salt Lake County landfill plant (a methane captured facility located on 6030 California Avenue)

Transjordan Landfill plant (a methane captured facility located on the Old Bingham Highway in southwest Salt Lake County)

Wholesale power market which could include large scale solar and wind generation, purchases from other entities or through the UAMPS organization, which is a joint action agency of which the Murray is a member.

Each of these plants add value to the Murray City portfolio. Murray City Power staff attempts to schedule these resources each hour of the day to better match our customers’ needs in the most cost-efficient manner. Unfortunately, the cost for these resources has escalated dramatically during this winter season. Murray City Power has seen monthly power costs double over expected winter projections. Other municipal power systems in the state, and in adjoining states, have also seen similar increases in wholesale power.

The causes for the drastic increases in power seem to be focused on a ‘perfect storm’ of weather, plant closures, and fuel restrictions. They include:

1. Lake Powell levels have dropped due to drought. Murray is paying 60% more for 60% less energy to the meter from Glen Canyon Dam.

2. Coal deliveries to the Hunter and IPA plants has lessened supplies by 50%. We haven’t been able to get coal on the ground at these facilities.

3. Coal supply issues at the mine itself has caused supply issues. The Lila Canyon Mine fire is impacting Murray’s coal supply line.

4. Natural gas pipeline restrictions have affected natural gas deliveries in the western US.

5. Natural gas storage leading into the season has been problematic.

6. Unprecedented natural gas prices reached $60 MMBTU, where $6 MMBTU was the norm.

7. Supply chain delivery for photovoltaic panels for the Red Mesa, large scale solar plant in the Four Corners has been delayed.

We are working through the budgetary ramifications of the most recent month’s costs. But the stability and reliability of your electricity are not at issue. The power will be to your light switch when you need it.

RESIDENT ON DISPLAY: KATHY ADAIR

AUDITIONS!

Auditions for Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA have been announced and are open for online submission until March 18, 2023. Directed by Candy Tippetts, performance dates are July 7-8, 10, 13-15 at the Murray Park Amphitheater. Submit audition form and video clip of singing 30-60 seconds of a song in style of the show. Open to ages 16 and older only.

Submit through google forms: https://forms.gle/Xhx17Hx7h47pJWXT7

Questions? Email catippetts@comcast.net

www.murray.utah.gov/1642/Auditions

Kathy’s artwork is on display in the central display case at City Hall. You can view her artwork until City Hall is closed early Spring.

Utah. Financed by Altabank.

Murray High students give 5 for the Fight thousands to help with cancer research

WhenMurray High student leaders were deciding upon a nonprofit organization to raise money for as part of their traditional winter fundraiser, they wanted it to be a local foundation that was making a positive impact for a lot of people in the community.

“5 for the Fight provides funding for cancer research and is something everyone can support because we found it impacts everyone at school, someone they may know, a family member, a friend,” said student body officers’ adviser Jessica Garrett. “It is supported by the Utah Jazz so it’s another way our community can connect.”

5 for the Fight, a Qualtrics-led nonprofit, is a global campaign that got its namesake by inviting everyone to donate $5 to the fight against cancer.

Garrett said through Principal Quinn Linde’s connections and his passion for helping the nonprofit, student leaders were able to meet with Qualtrics officials, tour the facility and get a personalized video.

With the dual goal of raising money for cancer research and to getting community involvement, as well as support from the Qualtrics and the Utah Jazz, student leaders led the monthlong fundraising campaign.

It was kicked off with a weeklong spirit bowl competition.

“People could donate, and the team could get spirit bowl points if they had the highest donation that went to the charity,” Garrett said.

It also involved various contests between student grades. Tug-of-war was a favorite, with the senior class defeating others to advance to challenge faculty.

“We have just a lot of strong faculty members who were able to hold them in that moment. It was a proud moment for our teachers,” she said.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, upward of 100 runners donned their sneakers and donated $15 to participate in a 5K at Mur-

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

ray Park. It also included a kids run.

“We had a ton of Murray families and faculty who ran with their own kids. The girls’ basketball team, instead of doing their practice at the school, came and ran the 5K,” she said.

Student leaders planned an Arts Night where visual art students and teachers donated items, such as paintings, pottery and photography, to sell. Murray High’s jazz band and improv team performed.

“People paid a $10 entrance fee, and then they could also purchase art and refreshments and enjoy several forms of art that night,” Garrett said.

Another opportunity to enjoy the arts and support 5 for the Fight was by paying the entrance fee to see Murray Idol, where contestants performed in front of the audience and three judges.

The judges picked winners for each category—Liam Garrett and Hayden Linde for elementary school winners; Jasmine Vera as the secondary school winner and Murray High art teacher Ryan Moffett as the adult winner.

The audience had a say as well.

“They could put money in a folder for the contestant they wanted to win the people’s choice,” she said.

Student leaders also planned and held a winter dance, Snow Ball, with the $5 ticket funds earmarked for 5 for the Fight.

“The kids created all the decorations and a backdrop for photos. They had a playlist, so they didn't have to pay for a deejay. They asked parents to volunteer so it didn’t cost anything, and all the money raised went to the fundraiser. There were 200 or 300 students there who had a lot of fun; a lot of them wore holiday pajamas,” Garrett said. “The thing that makes me the proudest of our winter charity was the intense student involvement. People attended and paid to come to events, but there were different clubs that were outside of student government that hosted their own

stuff. For example, our Black Student Union hosted a movie night. One evening, our FCCLA, DECA FBLA—our business clubs, hosted a silent auction before one of the basketball games. We had our Dance Company take donations to ‘pink flamingo’ a teacher’s classroom; they decorated it all pink with flamingos.”

Students also paid a $15 donation to have student “elves” carry their bags and books between classes to support the fundraiser.

Local businesses supported the students’ efforts with spirit nights where a portion of proceeds were earmarked for the winter charity. There also was an opportunity to buy raffle tickets and at a basketball game, 10 tickets were pulled for those people to have a chance to make a half-court shot to win free Chick-Fil-A for six months.

There were competitions between classes. For some classes, students got imaginative in ways to earn contributions. While one class sold sodas, brownies and granola bars between classes to raise money, another got students to pay to put an administrator in an empty display case for one minute.

“The class organized that and orchestrated it, so people got creative. I’ve been a part of a number of winter charities and fundraisers with Murray High, and this is the first time that I’ve seen it,” she said.

In late March, student body and

class officers will present their fundraising check of $16,273.02 to 5 for the Fight on the floor of a Utah Jazz game.

“Our goal for student government’s fundraiser is to help the student body come together whether it’s to provide services or money to those in need,” Garrett said. “This is a service opportunity for school that helps our students see outside of themselves and give of themselves, whether it’s time, ideas, money or whatever they can, and also, it’s a way to unify our students, to bring our school together.”

Through the years, Murray High has collected coats for families, supported a Make-A-Wish Foundation child’s wish and held a letter-writing campaign to Santa where Macy’s would donate $1 per letter to the Foundation, collected walking sticks and canes to donate, and other ways to serve the community.

“Sometimes it’s been money. Sometimes it’s been items,” she said. “The highlight is watching our student body officers create something new for the school and for the community and to involve students. With our Arts Night and Murray Idol, they were creating new galas that are starting traditions. These students are doing it themselves and wanting to get everyone involved to give back to our community. That ultimately is the best part.” l

Murray High students raised funds to help for 5 for the Fight cancer research. (Jessica Garrett/Murray High)

Cottonwood High student honored for leadership, community service

ACottonwood High senior was recently honored for her leadership and service with the University of Utah Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Leadership Award.

Ivette Hernandez was one of 12 students across the state who was selected for the honor.

“I got an email that said I won an award; I was excited,” she said.

After Hernandez was nominated by a Salt Lake Community College employee, she and others wrote essays sharing their experiences, advice and actions they chose to love and support nonviolence when encountering intolerance or hate. It fit with the week’s theme, “Choose Love Over Hate.”

“It was easy to write because I just love serving. I wrote about how I’m serving my community with people who would normally be discriminated,” she said.

Hernandez detailed her service with people with special needs. She has partnered with a woman who has Down syndrome and since September, for a couple hours every week, they’ve spent time painting, dancing, playing bingo and doing other activities.

“I love to do this kind of service because I know this is a group that gets discriminated and bullied, but every week, I choose to

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

show them patience, love, and acceptance,” she wrote in her essay.

She also volunteers monthly with the Utah Food Bank.

Her essay included how her family was discriminated against when they moved from California into their neighborhood.

“When I first moved to the area, we were the only Latino family and my house will always get TPed (toilet papered),” she said, adding that it stopped after they mounted a security camera on their house.

Hernandez also knew she could be discriminated at school.

“At middle school, there was a girl, and she asked the vice principal if he was discriminating against her because she was like Latina, and was told yes,” she said.

Her brother has been called discriminating names and “people have said hurtful things to me, have unfairly treated me, or have physically hit or pushed me,” she wrote in her essay. “Even then I cannot say that I hate them. I guess it is because I choose to feel more love for others over hate. I have been raised to be kind by serving and showing love.”

Hernandez wrote that “these incidents make me feel upset and sometimes at a loss of hope.” Yet, she reminds herself to “to stay

positive and hope that a change of heart is always possible.”

Through it all, she has excelled. The National Honors Society member plans to study pre-med in college with hopes of being a pediatrician.

“I just try to find the good side of people,” she said. “It helps to help other people.”

Hernandez has put herself in others’ shoes. When a new student arrived at Cottonwood, “she knew nothing of English so I offered to help translate for her in that class and we became really good friends.”

Her counselor, Amanda Calton, said Hernandez is inspiring.

“Ivette is bright, driven, and consistently challenged herself throughout high school by taking some of the most rigorous courses Cottonwood High offers,” she said. “AP (advanced placement), CE (concurrent enrollment) and honors classes were constants in her schedule; with a 3.8 GPA, Ivette excelled in these advanced classes and still was able to pursue outside interests beyond school.”

At the awards breakfast at the U’s alumni house, she was honored with a plaque and some swag in front of her parents. A week later, she received an acceptance letter from the U, welcoming her as a student.

This spring, she has a U of U clinic ex-

ternship with her medical assisting class.

“I’m excited that I get to learn how to help make a difference,” she said. l

Cottonwood High athletics moving to Class 4A, Region 10 in all sports

With the football program on life support, said Cottonwood Athletic Director Greg Southwick, the school petitioned for a move down from Class 5A to Class 4A.

“We were given a choice (by the Utah High Schools Athletics and Activities Association),” said Southwick. “The administration (at the school) decided if we could do that, it would be an awesome region for us.”

Several factors played into the decision, added Southwick.

The first, and perhaps most important, was that students attending Cottonwood’s prestigious AMES (Academy for Math, Engineering and Science) school but who were competing for athletics programs at other area schools were counting against the school’s overall enrollment.

“If they’re in our school, we’d like to have them participate for us,” said Southwick, who added that AMES students who played football at Kearns High, for example, did not help Cottonwood based on a sliding scale the UHSAA implements to determine which classification a school is placed in.

The second reason was that Southwick said Cottonwood has a high number

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

of students receiving free and reduced lunch. Third, traveling to away games at schools in southern Utah and Uintah county may have added some stress and strain on the Granite School District’s budget for school buses and bus drivers.

But now that Cottonwood has been realigned into what will be Class 4A with Jordan as well as crosstown rivals Murray and Hillcrest, Stansbury, Tooele and Park City, that’s less strain on a budget and school bus drivers can get home earlier, said Southwick.

The Colts have been competitive in almost every sport since they’ve been moved into a new region within Class 5A, however, overall enrollment at Cottonwood High School is slightly down from the time it last realigned.

“It worked out good with the travel,” said the Cottonwood AD. “There won’t be any long trips; even the Park City and Tooele bus rides are about 45 minutes away.”

The new changes will go into effect at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. l

Cottonwood High senior Ivette Hernandez recently was honored for her leadership and service with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Leadership Award. (Photo courtesy of Daysi Hernandez)

Cottonwood and Murray played in a nonregion game last fall. Starting next season, they’ll be facing off as region foes. (City Journals)

Murray High unified student-athletes team up with U of U women’s basketball

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Emmie Brinton may have been the star of the game—and she never had the ball in her hands.

The Murray High unified student-athlete, along with her teammate senior Lauren Fetzer and First Lady Abby Cox, were honorary coaches at the Jan. 27 inclusion night at University of Utah women’s basketball game.

It went beyond a wave to the audience, slapping hands with “The Muss” student section, getting a tour of the locker room, high-fiving players and coaches or even fist-bumping the red-tailed hawk mascot, Swoop.

“I gave coach (Lynne Roberts) advice,” Brinton said. “I said, ‘We’re good. We’re No. 1. We’ll win.’”

At one point, she joined the U of U radio broadcasters Milee Enger and Tyson Ewing and put on a set of headphones to “help call the game.”

Brinton also gave a hug to point guard Issy Palmer who came out of the game after an injury.

“I wanted to go on the court to help get up, but they wouldn’t let me,” she said.

Brinton got to “Light the U” with the players and other honorary coaches after the Utes, then ranked No. 9 in the country, held off a late University of Southern California rally for the 83-73 victory.

The U promoted Special Olympics’ upcoming inclusion week at this game and the next two days later against the No. 8 UCLA, where power forward Alissa Pili drove to the rim for a layup with less than a second left on the clock to beat then ranked No. 8 UCLA by

two points.

In support of unified sports programs, Roberts donated $100 for every 3-pointer the team made, totaling $1,400 that will be used for Special Olympics’ programming.

The U also has unified sports, as do most Utah colleges and universities, recently receiving the sportsmanship award at the national intramural flag football championships.

However, Brinton and Fetzer didn’t leave their teammates behind. Murray High’s unified team were invited to sit in a section near the bench and during the game, a video was shown on the jumbotron showing the Utes joining the Spartans in their gym.

“We played basketball with them,” student-athlete Vale Condori said after shooting a basket. “We learned from them. They were cheering and gave us T-shirts and autographs on a big poster. The First Lady gave me a hug.”

Rebounding for him was junior Jenelle Westenskow, who has been a peer tutor for three years.

“I like unified basketball because everyone comes together in a judgment-free zone,” she said. “The U players were nice to our students and another gym class came to watch and were supportive, cheering everyone on. It was a really cool experience and really special for our athletes.”

During the practice, the U players ran through some dribbling and shooting drills and scrimmaged with the Murray High team.

The public service announcement was filmed to promote the upcoming Inclusion Week, which Murray High as well as others

worldwide will celebrate the week of Feb. 27. Utah’s Special Olympics Youth Activation Committee, which has pairs of high school students representing schools around the state, planned statewide spirit days for all schools to encourage participation and promote inclusion in school activities.

Fetzer said the experience in the video and at the U will be one she remembers.

“It was amazing to see Emmie interact with the team and be excited when the First Lady remembered her name,” she said. “Everyone was very kind to us. There were always cameras around, but she was just herself, being

After the University of Utah beat USC in the game, Murray High’s unified student-athlete and honorary game coach Emmie Brinton helps the team “Light the U.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

During the first quarter of University of Utah’s women’s basketball game’s inclusion night, honorary coaches Murray High unified student-athlete Emmie Brinton and First Lady Abby Cox are shown on the jumbotron. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

After the University of Utah’s win over USC, U of U head coach Lynne Roberts (in dark shirt) spends some moments with her honorary coaches Murray High’s unified pair Lauren Fetzer and Emmie Brinton and First Lady Abby Cox at the U’s inclusion night game. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

a friend to everyone. This is my first year and I’ve learned that’s the cool part of being part of the unified team. They’re so happy, so nice, so welcoming to everyone.”

During the basketball clinic, Cox told the team the importance of unified sports. As part of her Show Up Initiative, she is a steadfast supporter of Special Olympics Unified Sports. Roberts then pumped them up for their upcom-

ing basketball season.

The Murray High Spartans were scheduled to host a regional unified basketball tournament Feb. 27 before the 63 teams are narrowed to the top 32. The state tournament will be played March 8 at Weber State University.

“I’m excited to hang out and cheer and laugh,” Condori said. “The best part is to cheer for each other, even for the other team. It’s

fun.”

Before that, unified players had the opportunity to be part of the NBA All-Star Weekend that was held in Salt Lake City over Presidents’ Weekend. About 200 unified student-athletes were invited to shoot around with NBA and WNBA players Feb. 17 at the University of Utah.

“This all has been a really cool way to

promote unified sports and inclusion, with the First Lady, the U of U women’s basketball team and with the All-Star weekend,” Unified Champion School’s College-growth Coordinator Boston Iacobazzi said. “We’re growing, and we’re building more inclusive schools and giving students more opportunities.” l

All-Star readers meet all-star mascots at Salt Lake County library event

The NBA All-Star events in Salt Lake were the perfect backdrop to celebrate All-Star readers in February. A winter reading event sponsored by the Salt Lake County Library kicked off Jan. 3. Readers who stayed engaged during the program were invited to meet the Jazz Bear and other NBA mascots Feb. 15 at the Viridian Center in West Jordan.

“We’re very fortunate to host the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake County and to be able to offer such a unique prize to our readers,” said County Library Program Manager Nyssa Fleig. “We hope offering a once-in-a-lifetime event like this will help create readers for life.”

The party kicked off just after 6 p.m. when the mascots came in, turned up the music and shot off their confetti cannons. All attendees got to enter through a balloon arch and then made their way to a decorated event room. Two big screen TVs showed NBA All-Star footage. Kids could play cornhole, or life-size chess and connect four while they waited to meet mascots.

The event brought out families from all over the valley, like Salt Lake City’s Aimee Broadbent and her 9-year-old son Deklan.

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

“I like to read…just a bit,” Deklan said, with a joking twinkle in his eye.

“He loves it!” Broadbent said.

His favorite books? “I like scary stories.”

The All-Star Winter Reading wasn’t just about reading—it challenged kids to stay engaged during the winter with different activities and report their progress online.

“I did all the activities. I read, I played basketball, and I colored in every activity,” Deklan said.

Broadbent said they’d participated in and attended the event before. But with the All-Star game happening this weekend, there’s some added excitement.

People had their choice of several mascots to meet, greet and get photos with, starting with Owlexander the library’s owl. Unified Police and the Salt Lake County Sheriff brought their mascots—a dog named Sgt. Siren and a horse named Sgt. Lightning.

Three NBA teams sent their mascots: the Miami Heat’s fireball Burnie, Clutch the bear of the Houston Rockets, and Blaze the Trail Cat of the Portland Trail Blazers. And from the NBA G League (minor league basketball), the SLC Stars were rep-

resented by the Jazz Bear’s cousin, Buster Bear.

But for loyal Utahns like the Waltons of Taylorsville who had played Jr. Jazz and seen lots of Jazz games, meeting the Jazz Bear for the first time was the most exciting thing about the night.

“We participate in the library reading events all the time because the girls love to read,” said Melena Walton of her daughters Ella and Lila. “We did the library’s preschool class when they were younger and came to reading time and puppet shows.”

The girls, now 14 and 10, kept busy during the winter with skiing and Jr. Jazz basketball. They stayed engaged with the other winter challenge activities like being creative, getting outdoors and trying new things.

But they definitely made time to read—Ella in the Star Wars novels, and Lila the Half Upon a Time series. Of course they’ve made their way through the Harry Potter and Fablehaven series. And when it comes to how they read, they’re traditionalists.

“I like the feel of a book in my hands, not an e-reader. I like turning pages in a real book, it’s just different,” Lila said, and Ella agreed. l

Murray High’s unified student-athlete Emmie Brinton sits with the University of Utah radio broadcasters Milee Enger and Tyson Ewing at the Jan. 27 inclusion night at University of Utah women’s basketball game. (Lauren Fetzer/Murray High)

At halftime at the University of Utah’s women’s basketball game’s inclusion night, First Lady Abby Cox, Murray High unified student-athletes Emmie Brinton and Lauren Fetzer joined Swoop on the floor as honorary coaches. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Aimee Broadbent of Salt Lake brought her son Deklan to meet the mascots Feb. 15 as a reward for completing the winter reading challenge. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)

Women’s Day with Mary Kay

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Embrace Equity, challenges women and allies in using their sphere of influence to create a fair and equal world. Such equity is important for social, economic, cultural and political advancement of women.

The first fight for women’s rights is said to date back to 1908, where 15,000 women took to the streets in New York City to protest for better pay, shorter working hours, as well as the right to vote. The following year, the Socialist Party of America declared the last Sunday in February the first National Women’s Day in honor of the strike. In 1910, in the midst of an international conference, it was proposed and unanimously voted among more than 100 in attendance from 17 different countries to officially create International Women’s Day around the world. In 1914, the globally recognized holiday marked March 8 as the official day to celebrate women going forward.

Since then we have seen strides made in efforts of women’s equality, including the first woman referee of a big game in February, first woman attorney general for Israel, first woman director of Major League operations for the New York Mets major league baseball team, and the first woman Vice President of the United States. We are also seeing more and more Fortune 500 companies that are run by female leaders such as General Motors, The Hershey Company, Nasdaq, Inc., and Mary Kay.

Mary Kay is a company that has embraced both equality and equity for women while providing jobs for hundreds of women right here in Utah. In honor of the 100year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in America, Mary Kay was recently named as one of the USA Today’s women of

the century, an honor recognizing those who have significantly impacted their community and their country. For more than 50 years, Mary Kay Incorporated has empowered women while changing the world of business. After experiencing inequality in the workplace herself, Mary Kay Ash knew she had to make a change not only for herself, but for all women. In 1963, Mary Kay Ash launched her business and disrupted the idea of business as usual, turning the male dominated workplace on its head in the process of change champion and groundbreaking businesswomen. Mary Kay Ash dedicated her life to empowering women and putting them in control of their own futures, and as result implemented a mission to enrich the lives of women and their families around the world.

Local Independent Sales Director Christy Flater has put herself in the driver’s seat of one of the best in class car incentive programs by earning the use of nine Mary Kay career cars. All of this is done through her hard work, applying the skills taught and the valuable resources and education offered

by Mary Kay. “I’ve been enriched by my independent business with Mary Kay. I am blessed to be offered the opportunity to travel with the most positive people, engage in a daily growth environment, and coach women to work with their divine strengths, recognize their positive influence within their homes and their communities,” Flater said. “Our culture is the foundation of Mary Kay, and it is only as strong as the next generation that upholds it.”

According to Flater, Mary Kay created a culture in the salesforce to share ideas and build each other up. It is a place where Flater said, “I can fail forward to success, while having cheerleaders tell me I can do it, all while they lead by example.” That is exactly the goal of this year’s International Women’s Day as www.internationalwomensday.com claims that “together we can work collectively to impact positive change.”

International Women’s Day invites you to show the world your embrace by striking a self-hug pose to show solidarity. Share your #EmbraceEquity image across social media using #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity.

Want to learn more about the culture, mission and benefits Mary Kay offers? Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast season two episode five. Join us as Flater, our special guest, shares with us about the impact of Mary Kay in her life, her goal in helping serve and encourage other women, and how we can get involved with such supportive endeavors such as the Mary Kay Ash Foundation. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available at www.hollycurby.com and wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast season two episode five.” l

Women from Risen Life gather for a women’s retreat to encourage and build one another up. (Photo courtesy Addie Knudsen)

Cottonwood students lend a hand to furry critters

Cottonwood High student body officers and faculty had a rare opportunity earlier this winter.

Joining them at school were their pets—there at the kickoff assembly to support Cottonwood’s fundraising assembly for animal rescue organizations in Salt Lake City.

“We had a puppy walk where people brought their puppies and walked them across stage,” said student body officers’ adviser Tara Battista. “We supported Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of Utah.”

Student body communications officer Talmage Winward fostered his cat, Violet.

“She’s tiny and precious, but pretty scared; I didn’t bring her in,” he said. “We had a wall where SBOs had pictures with their animals and put them on social media and our website to introduce our fundraiser, so I did that.”

The student leaders decided to support animal organizations because “a lot of us have little friends as pets and we thought it would be a cool way to help out animals. When students heard about it, and there’s a lot of students with strong connections to their animals, they were excited and jumped on board,” he said.

Throughout the weeks of their fundraiser, students held events and activities at lunchtimes and in the evenings or people could donate through Venmo or Apple Pay. Local businesses also earmarked a portion of their proceeds during spirit nights to support the Cottonwood students’ fundraiser.

“One thing that got a lot of people supporting us was our grilled cheese night. We made hundreds of grilled cheese sandwiches and sold meals to students in the span of two hours. We also sold them as a meal (with chips and a drink) to raise even more money. It’s always a favorite night, a huge hit, because everyone says they needed comfort food,” she said, adding that their pancake breakfast was another big seller.

Other favorites were purchasing a Candy Gram, where students could choose a cookie or candy cane to be delivered with a note to a classmate or teacher; a coin war where students donated loose change; and a fun run, that was supported by several sports teams. It was moved inside because of inclement weather.

“It actually was one of my favorite activities,” said Winward, who participated as part of the soccer team. “It was kind of a spur of the moment thing with the weather, but we mapped out a route that was a 5K. We ran around inside the school, in the hallways, and had members of our community running and several brought their dogs. It was just a really fun time running.”

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Battista said the fundraiser has been a Cottonwood tradition.

In the past, Cottonwood High students have supported one another through donating to the school’s food pantry. They’ve also helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Christmas Box House and several homeless shelters. This year, they raised about $2,000 for the animal shelters.

“Last year, we collected money for fabric, and students tied about 350 blankets and donated those. That was meaningful because that they got to deliver an item that they could see was directly impacting somebody where with money, there’s sort of this removal of that they don’t physically get to see what happens,” she said. “For us, we have this balance where we encourage donations, but we understand there’s a lot of kids who benefit from the donations themselves. So, everyone can be involved in supporting and participating in activities and service like making the blankets.”

Winward said he got involved in student government because he loves being part of the activities and planning.

“I have a ton of pride for our school through sports and events and it seemed like a win-win for everyone and to me to help people feel the same way. Doing this has been a lot of fun and it’s doing a lot of good,” he said.

Battista said it’s a way students can look beyond the school walls.

“The students really want to give back to a community that supported them in their events and initiatives. By reaching out to different organizations around the state each year, it gives them a chance to give back to people who have also supported them,” she said. “Part of their education is learning that we are in this together, and they get a chance to give back to people who have maybe helped them. It builds this sense of empathy in the kids. When they stop to give back to the community, to help each other, to be a positive effect on somebody else, that really does something to the kids as well.” l

Cottonwood High students made and sold grilled cheese sandwiches as part of their winter fundraiser. (Tara Battista/Cottonwood High)

Cottonwood High student leader Carley Stephens and other students helped raise funds for the Best Friends Animal Society and Humane Society of Utah. (Tara Battista/Cottonwood High)

Cottonwood boys hoops lifts its first region title since 2006-07

It has been an uphill climb since Marc Miller was hired as Cottonwood boys head basketball coach four years ago. But every year has always been marked by steady improvement along the way.

This year, the Colts won their first outright region title in nearly two decades.

“Obviously we’re excited about it, it’s our first region championship in 16 years,” said Cottonwood Athletic Director Greg Southwick. “At 21-1 it’s a compliment to the kids and the coaches and all of the hard work they’re putting in.”

This year for Cottonwood (21-1, 11-0 Region 7 Class 5A) has marked the most successful for the boys basketball program since 2006-07. The Colts shared that region title with Olympus in what was then Class 4A.

Now look who’s going back to 4A—the same school that had current Cottonwood head football coach Donovan Malmrose on it.

That reunion with 4A will have to wait until the next school year, but Malmrose was a senior guard on that Cottonwood co-region champion team that gave Mountain Crest a scare at the Dee Events Center in Ogden on Feb. 26, 2007.

The Colts’ new football coach was a senior, and drove the lane for a layup with only 12 seconds remaining—before the Colts

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

The 2022-23 Cottonwood Colts basketball team by order of jersey number is:

Ryan Nielson

Jackson Price

Chris Cox

Roman Israyelyan

Harkaran Makhar

Kirath Makhar

Mason Tolley

Max Russo

Kaelen Gray

Tengis Bayasgalan

Tommy Yates

Peter Oguama

Aiden Oliphant

Zeke Griffin

Jacek Budge

watched their dreams of a state basketball title fade on the other team’s ensuing possession.

Cottonwood certainly hopes that its final season in Class 5A goes beyond that, in March at the 5A state tournament. The Colts are assured of a top seed and an automatic bye into the second round, one round further than Cottonwood went at state, last year.

With one win in the second round of the

state playoffs at home, the Colts will be heading back to the Dee Events Center on the campus of Weber State University for the quarterfinals. Talk about coming full circle.

For now, the Colts, who have the best record in the state, will relish this region championship, according to Miller—though they know what lies ahead, potentially.

“We are pretty excited about competing

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in this year’s state tournament,” said Miller. “The team has played well and hopefully we can continue to play well as a team in the state tournament. Our players know how tough it is to win come state tournament time and there are a lot of teams this year that are capable of winning it all and we believe we are one of those teams.” l

NeuroHealthUtah.Com

Caleb Clark

Chris Cox was a pivotal scorer for the region-winning Colts. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Women have been taught to check for lumps when screening for breast cancer, but what most people don’t know is there are 12 symptoms that could be an indicator of breast cancer.

Utah resident Corrine Ellsworth-Beaumont, MFA, Ph.D., has made it her mission to educate women and girls to help them be informed when it comes to breast health. She created the nonprofit Know Your Lemons to help save lives and educate women around the world.

“People don’t know how to have the conversation,” she said. “We don’t talk about breasts and no one’s really challenged that. As we’re implementing the program in schools, we talk about every part of the body except breasts and there’s this implicit message that there’s nothing to know.”

Ellsworth-Beaumont said everyone should graduate from high school knowing the 12 signs of breast cancer that include skin sores, orange-peel skin, a sunken nipple or a dimple in the breast.

When a close friend died from breast cancer, Ellsworth-Beaumont was working as a professor in a business school in London. After her friend’s death, she left her job and put all her efforts into the Know Your Lemons nonprofit. She was stunned at the lack of information about breast health, even in the medical community.

Her goal is to educate women in a way to help them get familiar with their own breasts. That includes understanding breast anatomy like milk ducts and lymph nodes and what a cancerous lump feels like. It’s often hard, like a lemon seed, and doesn’t move.

“We don’t talk about breast anatomy or how breasts change during menstrual cycles,” Ellsworth-Beaumont said. “When we’re told to self-exam and feel for a lump, we’re given no information about anatomy, we don’t understand about breast cycles, you don’t know what that lump feels like.”

She worries misinformation about breast screening will discourage women from scheduling mammograms and doing self-exams. Social media propagates the myth that mammograms are dangerous when the screening actually saves lives. Unfortunately, Utah has one of the lowest screen rates in the country, ranked 50 out of 52 (including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico).

The Know Your Lemons main image details the 12 signs of breast cancer, displayed on lemons. She wants to get the poster and postcards in as many doctors’ offices, schools and women’s health centers as possible.

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

Because the image is universally understood across languages and cultures, Ellsworth-Beaumont has partnered with health care systems around the world to bring the information to nearly 60 countries. She often has to explain that talking about breast health is not the same as sex education, or that high school girls are not too young for the information.

“Breasts are not sexual organs. Breasts reproduce nothing but we have linked those two things so concretely that people don’t think breast health is different from sexual health,” she said.

She’s heard numerous stories from women who saw the lemon images and recognized their own breast cancer symptoms. Young women, especially, have a hard time convincing their doctors to screen for cancer, thinking they’re not old enough for breast cancer. The image empowers women to be their own advocates and not back down.

The Know Your Lemons app is a breast health and period tracker but unlike other period tracking apps, this one doesn’t collect data. The app was funded by donations and grants and was named the best women’s health app in the world from The Webby Awards. For more information, visit KnowYourLemons.org.

The foundation is also raising money to fund a $300,000 mammogram machine in the Bahamas by raffling a trip to the Bahamas. Visit the website for more information.

“It’s humbling to know I can help someone change their story,” said Ellsworth-Beaumont. “I don’t think it sinks most of the time, but once in a while I get a moment where I pause and reflect on what’s happening and that keeps me going. So many women have reached out saying the poster or the app helped them recognize the symptoms.” l

This life-saving image, created by Utah resident and Know Your Lemons founder/CEO Corrine Ellsworth-Beaumont, has educated women around the world and saved countless lives from breast cancer.

(Photo courtesy of Know Your Lemons)

One of my core principles as an elected official is to provide transparency to the public so that you can help hold government accountable. I am a big fan of auditing our departments and programs as a vital part of that process. The Salt Lake County Council has been working closely with County Auditor Chris Harding to ensure accountability and appropriate use of your tax dollars.

The Salt Lake County Auditor plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the county government. As an independent office, the auditor is responsible for conducting impartial and objective audits that provide the public with a clear understanding of the county's operations.

The auditor's primary objective is to protect taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse by reviewing the county's internal controls, records, systems and procedures. The auditor's office evaluates the county's compliance with laws and regulations, assesses the accuracy and completeness of financial information, and identifies areas for improvement in the county's financial management practices. The auditor's office also provides recommendations to the county council and county administration to help improve the county's operations.

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

One of the ways the auditor's office provides transparency to the public is by publishing regular audit reports that sum marize its findings and recommendations. These reports are accessible to the public and provide an in-depth analysis of the county's operations. You can find these reports at www.slco.org/auditor. The au ditor's office also works closely with the county council to provide regular briefings on its audit findings and recommendations. You can find recent reports on the justice court, solid waste management, and ani mal services among many more.

The county council has supported the auditor's office by voting to support HB358, county auditor amendments (strengthening our independence), providing funding for additional auditor positions, and working closely with the auditor's office to ensure that its recommendations are implement

When I was a kid, I worried about four things: my Halloween candy being stolen by siblings, missing a spelling word on a test, accidentally eating mayonnaise and nuclear war. In that order.

While those four things were the main cause of concern, I also worried about rainy days because stupid boys would throw earthworms down my shirt. I worried about wearing dresses to school because stupid boys would look up my skirt.

I worried about running out of books to read because I couldn’t imagine that apocalyptic scenario. I worried about earthquakes because we were constantly told The Big One would happen when we least suspected.

I guess I worried a lot, but I’m pretty sure our state legislators at the time didn’t give a rat’s behind about my mental health. In fact, children in the 1970s weren’t really considered people until they had a job and started paying taxes.

But now, our illustrious leaders say they are really concerned about the mental health of Utah’s youth, but only in select situations. There is talk to ban social media for kids under 16 because of the harmful impact it has on their mental wellness.

However, representatives don’t seem

A Mental Health Day

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

society. Even though teens with access to these treatments have demonstrated better mental health.

This is a “problem” our leaders don’t have to “solve” because, hear me out, it isn’t a “problem.”

On a related note, I found it interesting Utah will still permit cisgender female teens to get breast implants. Because Utah.

Do you know what else affects a child’s mental health? The fear they’ll be shot at school. The fear that climate change will eliminate elephants and polar bears. The fear their overworked teachers will quit because public money has been siphoned off to private and home schools.

I won’t clump all our elected officials into this bunch of wackadoodles because there are many people working to help trans youth, create sensible gun laws and reduce the load of our poor public school teachers who get beat up each year during the legislative session.

milla introduced a bill that would legalize psilocybin in Utah under strict controls. Because this is Utah, this mushroom therapy bill will probably go down in hallucinogenic flames, but hopefully it gets the conversation started.

Another way to help our youth develop better mental health? Stop passing harmful bills. Start passing bills that help our children and grandchildren deal with the everyday pressures of living in this world that feels like it’s gone bananas.

I agree social media causes great harm to our teens through cyberbullying, shaming and creating a comparison mindset. But there are additional issues we could tackle to help our children sleep better at night.

concerned about the mental health of transgender youth since our state leaders banned gender-affirming care for minors. Even though suicide rates skyrocket for trans youth who often feel stigmatized in

I vote that each educator be given a 10-day trip to Hawaii, paid for by the record-breaking state liquor sales. Of which they’ve heartily contributed, I’m sure.

Speaking of addressing mental health, Senate Minority Leader Luz Esca -

I never had to worry about cyberbullying as a kid, although actual physical bullying was definitely a thing. I worried about being pushed off the monkey bars onto the hard concrete. I worried about kids laughing at my homemade polyester pantsuits.

What I worry about now is how to create an inclusive and safe environment for our youth. I also still worry about accidentally eating mayonnaise, and nuclear war. In that order. l